The multi-talented performer, who learned to play the piano by ear from the age of 4, and performed her first piano ballad at 13, has gone on to sell over 20 million digital singles and four million albums to date through international hits like Poker Face.

When she was a student at New York University’s Tisch School Of Arts she became known for composing analytical papers focusing on topics such as art, religion and socio political order.

Her controversial outfits and raunchy videos have garnered a lot of publicity and she cites David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Madonna as some of her influences.

Gaga appeared semi-nude, wearing only plastic bubbles, on the cover of the annual ‘Hot 100′ issue of Rolling Stone magazine in May 2009.

She has claimed that she is bi-sexual in the past and that she is grateful for having an ‘army of gay fans’.

The outspoken performer has campaigned for gay rights and during her appearance at the National Equality March in Washington D.C. she changed the lyrics of John Lennon’s Imagine to reference the murder of gay teenager Matthew Shepard in 1998.

This year Gaga managed to win the award for “Best New Artist” while her single Paparazzi won two awards for “Best Art Direction” and “Best Special Effects” at the MTV Video Music Awards – in October she received Billboard Magazine’s Rising Star of 2009 award.